Hang from MSH but not on the knot

Does anyone slip a biner in place of the toggle, turn the biner long ways, then hook your whoopie into the biner using the screw/spring gate? Actually hooking the whoopie directly to the biner. It would take care of the problem of the whoopie slipping off the knot.

I remember a thread that said not to do it because the MSH wasn't meant to hold that kind of weight. But has anyone ever fallen when using the MSH to actually hold the biner with it pulling on one end? I did it this way for 3 days last summer and had no problem, maybe I was lucky.

Anybody else use the MSH this way?

I don't; I use a mini 'biner to prevent the whoopie from slipping off of the knot rather than to support the whoopie proper. The knot is doing all of the weight transfer, but the 'biner prevents the whoopie from sliding left or right off of it and provides a little "down" tension to keep it in place when there's little to no weight in the hammock.

If I was to try and hang off of the mini 'biner itself, well...let's just say that I hope I'm not hanging over anything sharp...

I use a 150 lb strength carabiner... Sliding the whoopie inside the carabiner so it doesn't slip off...

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/23/enape8as.jpg

The wife and I did just what you are talking about last summer in our tablecloth hammock with no problems at all. I've now changed to ring buckles as a slippery half hitch is easier to explain to friends than a correct MSH if they are setting it up.

If you intend to clip the whoopie sling into the biner as your MSH toggle, be sure to use a climbing rated biner.

Cheers

Brian

FlRider and Brute1100 I also usually hang from the MSH in traditional manner. Brian Willan thanks for the safety check. And Burning Daylight good to hear it works for you.

Clearly, not many people clip their whoopies into the biner instead of on the knot. I will still keep trying it, on a careful basis, and report back after I feel very comfortable with it. A lot of people don't like the traditional MSH hang because they have had the whoopie slip off the knot. This alleviates that.

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Originally Posted by outdoorsguy

Does anyone slip a biner in place of the toggle, turn the biner long ways, then hook your whoopie into the biner using the screw/spring gate? Actually hooking the whoopie directly to the biner. It would take care of the problem of the whoopie slipping off the knot.

I remember a thread that said not to do it because the MSH wasn't meant to hold that kind of weight. But has anyone ever fallen when using the MSH to actually hold the biner with it pulling on one end? I did it this way for 3 days last summer and had no problem, maybe I was lucky.

Anybody else use the MSH this way?

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I remember this coming up a while back with a particularly passionate member advocating it. That person never had issues with it and you may not either. Its one of those things that will work 99% of the time but because the MSH is not meant to be used in this way, that 1% still exists. Try using a clove hitch. There's a video on youtube showing how to use it with a biner and it can be just as fast as the MSH but will be more secure. I have used it before. To make it easy to undo just make it slippery by putting a bight in the working end to finish it off.

I used this method for a while with no problems as long as the MSH is tied correctly and a climbing rated biner is used.
Red

Bubba and Shotgunred thanks, I'm going to keep trying the MSH and also use the clove hitch to compare and see which I like more.

I think it's safe enough. I weigh about 370 currently, and I've slept on a pair of 20 kN carabiners used as the spike in a Marlin Spike Hitch in my tree straps. The biner and the nylon webbing didn't deform, and the knots came out easily after slipping them off the biner.

I've moved away from the system because I don't want to have more than a pair of carabiners on each rig, and I like having the easy use of a carabiner on each end of the hammock, under the tarp, where I can hang extra gear or get the bug net off & on more easily.

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Originally Posted by Brute1100

I use a 150 lb strength carabiner... Sliding the whoopie inside the carabiner so it doesn't slip off...

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/23/enape8as.jpg

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I've seen you post this a few times, and the idea is fantastic... Just wondering; does it occasionally flip over the biner and end up larksheaded onto the biner if you leave it blowing in the wind, unweighted? Or slip at all? It seems to me it'd still slip, just not actually drop to the ground... Meaning if you didn't check before sitting down you could be weighting the biner inadvertently. I'm just curious; despite not being a gram weenie, I am an ounce weenie so biners are out for me... Just liked the idea and got curious. :)

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Originally Posted by OldRagFreeze

I've seen you post this a few times, and the idea is fantastic... Just wondering; does it occasionally flip over the biner and end up larksheaded onto the biner if you leave it blowing in the wind, unweighted? Or slip at all? It seems to me it'd still slip, just not actually drop to the ground... Meaning if you didn't check before sitting down you could be weighting the biner inadvertently. I'm just curious; despite not being a gram weenie, I am an ounce weenie so biners are out for me... Just liked the idea and got curious. :)

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After ~10 nights in the hammock using this method, it's yet to happen to me. However...I'm also aware that my continued well-being is dependent upon ensuring that my suspension is set up correctly. So, I check it before getting into the hammock. YMMV if you don't check...

Also an ounce weenie, but the 'biners also attach my Camelbak to my pack, so...

Old Rag -
That's not a Marlin spike hitch, unless I'm mistaken. You've got the 'biner larksheaded onto your strap?

The knot in the photo isn't this,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVQzw...I1Tkw&index=18

but it looks like a variation of it. Found it per Bubba. And instead of putting it over the knot, maybe just clip it into the biner, ie. more secure?

I'm thinkin biners are only strength-rated when the load is placed on their long axis...Prob'ly doesn't matter here cause you're using the Knot- Not the toggle...

Maybe replace that biner with a 23g Camp USA Nano biner; MSH the biner to your straps; and just hook your whoopies right into that biner? Been working for me many hangs... Also makes a nice place to clip your backpack light, etc. Either way HYOH

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Originally Posted by outdoorsguy

.....I remember a thread that said not to do it because the MSH wasn't meant to hold that kind of weight.....

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This not true. The marlin spike hitch is a sailing knot used with a marlin spike. Once tied, the sailor can pull the line tight by pulling on the marlin spike (see pic below)

I have used a carabiner as you described many times and yes the hammock can be directly attached to the carabiner.

If you use a strong 'toggle', say a piece of steel, there is no reason you could not put full rated load directly on the toggle. The reason a lot of hammmock folks say not to do this is due to the weakness of the toggle, not the marlin hitch itself.

Here's a real marlin spike FYI
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Marlingspike.JPG